Your guide to summer eats, drinks and festivals

What’s the one question I’ve been asked most over the summer period so far?

Well, it’s the same one as last year around this point in summer (and the same the year before that). It may sound simple enough, but it’s really important to some, including me. Where do I go for ice-cream? Augustus Gelatery still trumps all others in the region for variety and flavour, and although perhaps touch more expensive than most, the quality is always consistent. The fact they have multiple outlets spread across our CBD and Surf Coast makes it even more handy. I remember meeting the owners when they opened their first parlour in Gheringhap Street roughly five or so years ago, and their modest plan then was to open and operate another three to four shops if this one took off. Today, they’re trading in 35 outlets with more on the way. What a success story, and all due to nailing one simple product.

Onto another local success story. Boccabona has been open in Ocean Grove for a couple of months now, and is definitely worth a visit if decent bowls of pasta are your thing (and let’s face it, whose are they not?). The pasta bar is the third venue opened by Luca Guadagin – an Italian chef who for years has called Geelong home – on the site where Greek-inspired eatery Kala once sat (albeit not for all that long). I’ve really enjoyed Luca’s food over the years, particularly his pizza, but here he shows off his hand at making some of the freshest pasta you’re likely to taste this summer. There’s some small antipasti and salad dishes to get you started (as well as quality desserts to finish) but it’s really all about that inhouse-made pasta goodness that ranges from mafalde, to gnocchi, to ravioli. As the restaurant’s slogan’s reads: “Simple, seasonal and always al dente”. Love it!

Change is in the air around Newtown this month, as The Gold Diggers Arms welcomes new owners to the bar. The keys won’t be handed far, though, as the incoming tenants will be the local publicans behind The Sawyers Arms Tavern, found just down the road. They’ve certainly done a good job at breathing fresh life into there over the past few years (eg. adding multiple new dining spaces / function spaces, etc.) so let’s hope they can replicate the same for the Diggers, where it’s felt like a little bit love has been needed for a while. I’m quite excited about this one: it’s been a great local pub for many different generations over the years and should (of course) continue to be. Watch this space.

And if you’ve somehow missed the good news, Geelong Beer Festival will be making its annual return to Johnstone Park next weekend. Much like previous years, those attending have from noon to 8pm to enjoy countless beers (I think from memory there was more than 100 last year?) from both local and nationally recognised breweries. There’ll be a stage featuring some great Australian music and artists, including Geelong’s own piano man, Andy Pobjoy, as well as other non-beer related stalls to ease your thirst, with distilleries servicing gins, slushies and spritzes. Tickets are still available. I’ve been the past couple of years and it’s a really great day out – even if you’re not all that particular about the variety of beer up for consumption – a rug on the grass is hard to beat when taking in the sounds, energy and slight chaos of a merry crowd on a warm summer’s afternoon.

Looking even further forward, there’s a date some may want to mark in their diaries now, particularly if you’ve been wanting to attend one of the many Melbourne Food and Wine Festival events that happen regionally. For the last weekend in March, Freshwater Creek favourite, Common Ground Project, will be hosting a series of traditional Afghan feasts, all prepared by immigrated women who have newly reached our shores. What I love about this event is that it’s more than just a meal: you’re welcome to arrive early and wander their garden to pick the herbs that will then act as components to some of the dishes you’ll be served. Along the way, you’re able to engage with your hosts and learn more about the regenerative farming practices used at the property, as well as some of the other programs (eg. education and market events) offered to the community. The food itself will be more than just a meal too: an underrepresented and (often) misunderstood cuisine, expect a multiple shared courses of spice, colour and flavour, all using as many farm-fresh ingredients from their garden. No doubt some of the recipes shared for the event will be as authentic as they come!

Purchase tickets through the MFWF website.